#but karin should not have social media

[e-enbyanon]

Sick of real life horrors; back to fictional ones that I can make memes of

And close up of Karin’s pfp

Baba Yaga asked to be censored; rip her self-esteem fr

(og post and poster under the cut)

My humor is 100% a coping thing, good lord

[beardedmrbean]

The US Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law Friday that would force TikTok’s sale from a Chinese state-owned firm, even as President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have sought to block the divestment.

The nine justices ordered the qualified divestment by Jan. 19 of the California-based social media platform from Beijing-based ByteDance.

“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” read the key portion of the unsigned opinion.

“But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the court said.

“For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”

Liberal Sonia Sotomayor and conservative Neil Gorsuch filed separate concurring opinions, with Gorsuch writing: “Without doubt, the remedy Congress and the President chose here is dramatic.

“The law may require TikTok’s parent company to divest or (effectively) shutter its U. S. [sic] operations. But before seeking to impose that remedy, the coordinate branches spent years in negotiations with TikTok exploring alternatives and ultimately found them wanting.”

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar had argued before the court last week that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was necessary and that Americans’ free speech could be “unrestricted once TikTok is freed from foreign adversary control.”

The justices agreed, with Gorsuch concluding his concurrence by writing: “Speaking with and in favor of a foreign adversary is one thing. Allowing a foreign adversary to spy on Americans is another.”

Congress passed the legislation last April and it was signed into law by Biden, 82, but the retiring commander-in-chief is not expected to enforce it in the final three days of his administration.

Instead, Biden will defer the decision to Trump, 78, when he returns to the White House on Monday.

“President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 

“Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.”

Instead, Biden will defer the decision to Trump, 78, when he returns to the White House on Monday, a US official told the Associated Press on Thursday.

“It ultimately goes up to me, so you’re going to see what I’m going to do,” Trump told CNN anchor Pamela Brown in a phone call after the decision. “Congress has given me the decision, so I’ll be making the decision,” he claimed.

The president can order the Justice Department not to enforce the law for a period of time, or can suspend the divest or ban mandate taking effect for 90 days to allow negotiation with a US-based buyer.

“The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it,” the president-elect added on Truth Social late Friday morning. “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”

Under the law, the president can order the Justice Department not to enforce the law for a period of time, or can suspend the divest or ban mandate taking effect for 90 days to allow negotiation with a US-based buyer.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is planning to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday — and the incoming president announced minutes before Friday’s decision that he had discussed the social media app with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China,” Trump posted on his Truth Social a little before 9:30 a.m. ET. “The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A. It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately.”

“We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!” he said.

In a Friday floor speech, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said: “Everyone — the Biden administration, the incoming Trump administration even the Supreme Court — should continue working … to find an American buyer for TikTok, so we can both free the app from any influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party and keep TikTok going, which will preserve the jobs of millions of creators.”

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 26, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

Well, the Republicans did it. After middle-of-the-night negotiations to include more of the far right’s wish list, House Republicans passed a bill agreeing to a short-term raising of the debt ceiling, so long as it is accompanied by massive spending cuts and a rollback of Biden’s major accomplishments. The bill squeaked through by a vote of 217 to 215, mostly along party lines. Four extremist Republicans voted no because they believed the measure didn’t go far enough to slash spending.

The administration reiterated that it would not negotiate over paying the nation’s bills. “In our history, we have never defaulted on our debt or failed to pay our bills,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “Congressional Republicans must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default and ensure that the full faith and credit of the United States is not put at risk. That is their job. Economists have warned that default could spark a dangerous financial crisis, lead to a recession costing millions of Americans their jobs, endanger hard-working Americans’ retirement savings, and increase long-term federal borrowing costs, adding to deficits and debt. We are not a deadbeat nation.”

“I am here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen,” E. Jean Carroll said in court today for the former president’s civil trial for rape. “He lied and shattered my reputation, and I am here to try to get my life back.” Carroll offered a detailed account of what she says was Trump’s attack nearly 30 years ago, an attack that warped her life.

While she testified, Trump attacked Carroll on social media. The judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, warned Trump’s lawyer that his client’s statement was “entirely inappropriate,” saying he was trying to influence the jury. Any more commentary might open up “a new source of potential liability,” Kaplan said. The lawyer said he would do the best he could to silence Trump, but later in the day, Trump posted another attack and his son Eric Trump followed suit.

“I wanted to address my senators, Cruz and Cornyn,” Amanda Zurawski told the Senate Committee on the Judiciary today at a hearing on reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision. Zurawski’s water broke 18 weeks into her pregnancy, making it impossible for her fetus to survive. Because of the vague and extreme antiabortion bill Texas lawmakers had passed, her health care providers refused to treat her so long as the fetus had a heartbeat, denying her an abortion. Zurawski developed deadly sepsis and, after giving birth to a stillborn daughter, spent three days in intensive care as doctors worked to save her life.

Zurawski said she wanted the two Texas Republican senators to know “that what happened to me I think most people in this room would agree was horrific. But it’s a direct result of the policies they support. I nearly died on their watch, and…I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future. And it’s because of the policies that they support.”

Neither Cruz nor Cornyn showed up to hear her. Cornyn later said Zurawski should consider suing her doctors for misinterpreting the law. Zurawski responded: “[M]y physician and my team of health care professionals that I saw over the course of three days, while I was repeatedly turned away from health care access, made the decision to not provide an abortion because that’s what they felt they had to do under Texas’ law…. And that will continue to happen and it is continuing to happen, and it’s not a result of misinterpretation. It’s the result of confusion, and the confusion is because [of] the way the law is written.”

Today, the Walt Disney Company sued Florida governor Ron DeSantis over his “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” and attack free speech. Disney’s former chief executive officer last year spoke out against the governor’s law prohibiting teachers from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity. The lawsuit says that DeSantis’s attack “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

“For more than half a century,” the lawsuit reads,” Disney has made an immeasurable impact on Florida and its economy, establishing Central Florida as a top global tourist destination and attracting tens of millions of visitors to the State each year. People and families from every corner of the globe have traveled to Walt Disney World,” but that relationship is now in jeopardy, the lawsuit warns. “A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

Meanwhile, DeSantis is overseas on what has been billed as a trade mission.

Tonight, the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals denied Trump’s last-ditch attempt to prevent former vice president Mike Pence from testifying before the grand jury investigating Trump’s attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 presidential election. The grand jury has issued a subpoena for Pence; Trump tried to argue that Pence’s testimony was barred because of executive privilege. The court of appeals disagreed.

Today, two associates of former Trump ally Steve Bannon were sentenced to four years and three years in prison for soliciting donations for their “We Build the Wall” charity and then pocketing the money. Bannon was also charged in the case, but Trump pardoned him for his involvement in it before he left office.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., today, President Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea reaffirmed what Biden called the “ironclad” alliance between the two countries. They announced a new agreement, the so-called Washington Declaration, to increase cooperation in order to strengthen the message of nuclear deterrence conveyed to North Korea. This deterrence will include military training and exercises, the establishment of a joint nuclear consultative group, and the visit of a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea. “We’re not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula, but we will have visits to ports, visits of nuclear submarines and things like that,” Biden said.

“A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action,” he added, a public reassurance Yoon was hoping to receive when he arrived in Washington. Nervous about North Korean development of nuclear weapons, a majority of South Koreans want to develop their own nuclear weapons, a stance the U.S. strongly opposes.

This official state visit, the second of the Biden presidency, reinforced the changing political landscape in the Indo-Pacific, where the United States seeks to support Japan and South Korea to counter the growing power of China. Since 2021, Korean businesses have invested more than $100 billion in the U.S., an investment that the White House says will create more than 40,000 new jobs here, while the U.S., in turn, is investing in South Korea. The presidents vowed to continue to work together to secure supply chains, develop clean energy, and cooperate on cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Biden and Yoon have met four times before, and the mood at the White House after the announcement was friendly and celebratory. At tonight’s dinner in President Yoon’s honor, the attendees gave the South Korean leader a standing ovation when he sang the first verse of Don McLean’s 1971 rock ballad “American Pie.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[fuckyeahilike]

Oh look, trans women stripping in public. For some reason that was not expected by the staff of the White House. Someone tell these men that if they really want to pass for women they should learn that women are taught shame.

Three guests at a White House LGBTQ+ Pride party on Saturday have been banned from future events after posing topless on the South Lawn.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the behaviour as "unacceptable" and "unfair" to others.

Rose Montoya, a trans woman, influencer and advocate, was one of those banned after posting a video on social media.

In response, Ms Montoya said being topless in Washington was legal and she had no intention of being vulgar.

Ms Montoya posted a 58-second video of the White House event which included a moment where she is seen topless, with her hands over her chest, next to two shirtless trans men.

"Are we topless at the White House?," someone off camera asks.

Ms Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday: "It was unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families."

"This behaviour is inappropriate and disrespectful for any event at the White House. It is not reflective of the event we hosted to celebrate LGBTQI+ families or the other hundreds of guests who were in attendance," Ms Jean-Pierre said.

"Individuals in the video will not be invited to future events."

Ms Montoya's video also featured US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden speaking at the podium and later greeting Ms Montoya.

After a backlash online, Ms Montoya shared a TikTok video in which she questioned why her chest was now seen by some as inappropriate when, she said, before she came out as transgender, it was not.

"My trans masculine friends were showing off their top surgery scars and living in joy, and I wanted to join them," she said. "And because it is perfectly within the law of Washington DC, I decided to join them and cover my nipples just to play it safe."

In the video, captioned "free the nipple", she added: "I was simply living my joy and my truth and existing in my body."

Hundreds of guests were in attendance at the event, which the White House said was the largest Pride party ever hosted at the official home and office of the president.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Flags at the US Capitol will be flown at full-staff when US President-Elect Donald Trump is sworn in for the second time, The Hill reported. Trump had previously expressed his annoyance with the idea that flags would be flown at half-staff in commemoration of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, aged 100, as per The Hill. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that visuals of flags flying would mark his second inauguration. Earlier this week, Johnson wrote on social media that on Monday, “the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump.” Johnson noted that the flags would return to half-staff in memory of Carter the following day. The dispute stemmed from the practice of lowering flags to half-staff for 30 days following the death of any former president. US President Joe Biden followed that procedure after Carter’s death, and the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted he did not plan to change the regular pattern to accommodate Trump. The president-elect, however, complained about the issue for weeks and said that the proposed flying of flags at half-staff was a mark of Democratic disrespect. In a social media post on January 3, Trump complained that Democrats were “giddy” about the idea. “They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves,” Trump alleged. The incoming president added that, because of Carter’s death, “the Flag may, for the first time during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half-mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it,” as per The Hill. Flags had been flown at half-staff during then-President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration in January 1973. Former President Harry S. Truman, who led the nation from 1945 to 1953, died on December 26, 1972. Nixon does not appear to have objected, at least publicly, to that arrangement. Republican governors have also rallied for Trump. Eight GOP-led states—Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas—announced that their flags would be fully raised for Monday’s inauguration. The Hill reported that the backing indicates respect for the President’s office rather than a pro-Trump move. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) issued a press release Tuesday stating, “The official installation of a President is a historic day in the calendar of our nation and should be recognized as such. Having the flag at full staff symbolises respect for that office and our nation’s newly elected leader.” [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Flags at the US Capitol will be flown at full-staff when US President-Elect Donald Trump is sworn in for the second time, The Hill reported. Trump had previously expressed his annoyance with the idea that flags would be flown at half-staff in commemoration of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, aged 100, as per The Hill. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that visuals of flags flying would mark his second inauguration. Earlier this week, Johnson wrote on social media that on Monday, “the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump.” Johnson noted that the flags would return to half-staff in memory of Carter the following day. The dispute stemmed from the practice of lowering flags to half-staff for 30 days following the death of any former president. US President Joe Biden followed that procedure after Carter’s death, and the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted he did not plan to change the regular pattern to accommodate Trump. The president-elect, however, complained about the issue for weeks and said that the proposed flying of flags at half-staff was a mark of Democratic disrespect. In a social media post on January 3, Trump complained that Democrats were “giddy” about the idea. “They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves,” Trump alleged. The incoming president added that, because of Carter’s death, “the Flag may, for the first time during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half-mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it,” as per The Hill. Flags had been flown at half-staff during then-President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration in January 1973. Former President Harry S. Truman, who led the nation from 1945 to 1953, died on December 26, 1972. Nixon does not appear to have objected, at least publicly, to that arrangement. Republican governors have also rallied for Trump. Eight GOP-led states—Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas—announced that their flags would be fully raised for Monday’s inauguration. The Hill reported that the backing indicates respect for the President’s office rather than a pro-Trump move. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) issued a press release Tuesday stating, “The official installation of a President is a historic day in the calendar of our nation and should be recognized as such. Having the flag at full staff symbolises respect for that office and our nation’s newly elected leader.” [ad_2] Source link

[bllsbailey]

Another Hurricane Barreling Toward Florida...and FEMA Is Out of Money

Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida, having been formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s likely to reach major hurricane status—a category four or five storm Tuesday—before smashing into the Sunshine State on Wednesday. Tampa is projected to take the brunt of the storm. Milton will be the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in 100 years. Gov. Ron DeSantis is preparing to launch the largest evacuation operations since 2017’s Irma. The state’s highway shoulders will be open to traffic to aid people fleeing for safety. 

West-central Florida braces for Hurricane Milton —potentially the region’s worst storm in 100 years https://t.co/paX4eRzZcZ pic.twitter.com/2Fsptu4EyC— New York Post (@nypost) October 6, 2024

For those wondering, yes, it's very unusual to get a Category 4 or 5 hurricane solidly over the Gulf this late in the hurricane season. If Milton's forecast verifies, it would be the first recorded Cat 4/5 Gulf hurricane this deep in the season since Michael in 2018. pic.twitter.com/OunKW15jCf— Michael Lowry (@MichaelRLowry) October 6, 2024

— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) October 7, 2024

— Blake Mathews (@BlakeMathews08) October 6, 2024

Given how Biden-Harris responded to Hurricane Helene in Georgia and North Carolina, Washington has sent the message to Florida: you’re on your own. 

Helene’s aftermath volumes regarding how Democrats react to natural disasters when a) the states impacted are crucial in the upcoming election and b) they are chock full of rural pro-Trump supporters. It’s also going to be another highlight reel regarding how this administration is piss-poor in disaster response. They don’t care, and it doesn’t help that the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced they didn’t have enough funds to make it through hurricane season because they diverted funds to help illegal aliens, something that the agency tried to push back on Sunday (via Fox News): 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in the southeastern U.S., the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it was "just plain false" that the agency was short on disaster relief funds because the money was spent on illegal immigrants.  FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was interviewed by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on "This Week."  "Let's let's talk about some of the misinformation that is out there, including these claims from former President Trump that FEMA is about $1 billion short because money has been going to undocumented immigrants," Stephanopoulos said.  "You know, it’s frankly ridiculous and just plain false," Criswell said. "This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people. You know, it’s really a shame that we’re putting politics ahead of helping people, and that’s what we’re here to do. We have had the complete support of the state."  […]  Stephanopoulos then asked Criswell about the misinformation spreading online and going viral, with one social media user suggesting a militia should go against FEMA.  "It has a tremendous impact on the comfort level of our own employees to be able to go out there. But it's also demoralizing to all of the first responders that have been out there in their communities helping people, FEMA staff, volunteers, the private sector that are working side by side with local officials to go out and help people," she said. "I need to make sure I can get the resources to where they are needed. And when you have this dangerous rhetoric like you're hearing, it creates fear in our own employees. We need to make sure we're getting help to the people who need it." 

Oh, shut up, lady. FEMA is not the victim here. Also, you’re lying, or at the very least, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is: 

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 4, 2024

— Alex Pfeiffer (@__Pfeiffer) October 4, 2024

Flashback: Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre admitting to allocating FEMA funds for immigrants pic.twitter.com/qj3YOHRUnp— SHO’NUFF (@IAMSHO_NUFF) October 6, 2024

Also, if this is how we prepare for natural disasters under Biden and Kamala, we're screwed:

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 7, 2024

Brace yourselves, folks. Pray for those in Florida and be prepared for another round of abject incompetence from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the latter of which sat down for an interview on a sex podcast during Helene relief efforts. Again, this government doesn’t care about anyone who isn’t a Democrat.

Trending on Townhall Videos

[influencermagazineuk]

Trump's Controversial Comments on Harris's Identity Ignite Fierce Backlash

During a recent interview at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago, former President Donald Trump made provocative remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity. Trump’s comments, questioning whether Harris identifies as Indian or Black, have sparked widespread condemnation and heated responses from various quarters. In his interview at the NABJ convention, Trump commented that he was unaware of her being Black until several years ago when she identified as such. He expressed uncertainty about whether she should be considered Indian or Black. These comments were made as Trump expressed confusion over Harris’s racial identity, alleging that she had changed her identity from Indian to Black. Trump further asserted that he respected Harris’s racial identity but seemed to suggest that her shift to identifying as Black was sudden and questionable. His comments prompted immediate reactions from media and political figures, including ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, who pointed out that Harris has always identified as a Black woman. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Kamala Harris’s Response to Trump’s Remarks Vice President Kamala Harris responded to Trump’s comments during an event at a Black sorority in Houston. She characterized Trump’s remarks as a reminder of the divisiveness and disrespect that characterized his presidency. Harris asserted that the American people deserve a leader who addresses facts with calm and reason, rather than hostility and anger. Harris’s response highlighted her frustration with Trump’s persistent pattern of divisive rhetoric and underscored her call for a more respectful and fact-based discourse in American politics. White House Condemns Trump’s Comments The White House also swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the comments as “repulsive” and “insulting,” emphasizing that no one has the right to dictate another person’s identity or how they choose to identify themselves. Jean-Pierre’s response reflects the administration’s stance on the importance of respecting personal identity and the detrimental impact of such inflammatory statements. Kamala Harris’s Historic Achievements Kamala Harris, who made history in 2020 as the first Black and Asian-American Vice President of the United States, has been a prominent figure in American politics. A graduate of Howard University, a historically Black institution, and a member of the predominantly Black Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Harris’s identity is deeply intertwined with her experiences and achievements. Harris’s background and contributions have been significant in advancing discussions on racial and social justice, making Trump’s comments particularly contentious in the context of her historic role and advocacy. The Broader Context and Reactions Trump’s comments reflect ongoing debates about racial identity and representation in American politics. The backlash from various sectors, including political figures, media representatives, and the general public, underscores the sensitivity and significance of discussions about race and identity. As the controversy continues, it highlights the need for respectful dialogue and understanding in addressing issues of racial and cultural identity. The responses from Harris and the White House indicate a broader commitment to confronting divisive rhetoric and promoting inclusivity. Conclusion Donald Trump’s recent comments on Kamala Harris’s racial identity have ignited a significant debate, drawing sharp criticism from Harris, the White House, and various media outlets. The controversy serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in American political discourse regarding race and identity, and the importance of approaching these discussions with sensitivity and respect. As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact public perception and political dynamics in the coming months. Read the full article

[grimmichi-ao3-feed]

[New AO3 Fic!] Social Harm

by ByaAndKensSecretLoveChild00000001

The soul society has decided that, for their Captains to be mentally healthy, interacting with people in the Land of the Living will be necessary. They had thought if they learned about other cultures and ideals, they would be much more sound of mind. What do they do when the exact opposite happens?

Or why Nobody in the SS should have a Smartphone and, by extention, Social Media.

Words: 145, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of The Fear of what you Feel

Fandoms: Bleach (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Multi

Characters: Kuchiki Rukia, Kuchiki Byakuya, Kurosaki Ichigo, Kurosaki Yuzu, Kurosaki Karin, Zaraki Kenpachi, Ishida Uryuu, Sado "Chad" Yasutora, Inoue Orihime, Original Arrancar Characters (Bleach), Original Kuchiki Clan Characters (Bleach), Original Female Character(s), Matsumoto Rangiku, Abarai Renji, Hitsugaya Toushirou, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, Ulquiorra Cifer

Relationships: Kuchiki Byakuya/Zaraki Kenpachi, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques/Kurosaki Ichigo, Abarai Renji/Original Female Character(s), Inoue Orihime/Ishida Uryuu, Kuchiki Rukia/Matsumoto Rangiku, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Additional Tags: Fluff, Fluffy Ending, Panic Attacks, Social Anxiety, Technology, Social Media, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Dissociation, Kuchiki Byakuya Needs a Hug, Past Kuchiki Byakuya/Kuchiki Hisana, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Gay Panic, Minor Kuchiki Byakuya/Kuchiki Hisana, Kuchiki Byakuya-centric, Nobody is Dead, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Notes, Trans Female Character, Trans Kuchiki Byakuya, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, References to Depression, Self-Harm, Self-Hatred, Self-Esteem Issues, Self-Doubt, Self-Discovery, Self Confidence Issues, Insecurity, Pride Parades, Pride, Gay Pride, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, no beta we die like my will to live

Read it now on AO3!

[empressofthesunwriter]

Friendly Faces Everywhere

Codename Dovahkiin Part 2

Now that the Stick of Truth RPG is over it's time for N.K. to face the normal everyday life of South Park.

She should have known nothing in South Park is ever normal!

Day to day the craziness of this supposed quiet little mountain town she has to combat now.

Thank god, she has Tammy, Wendy, her boys, and her Social Media/Magical Girl Powers on her side.

This gonna be a wild ride!

Main Pairing: New Kid/Kenny McCormick/Kyle Broflovski

I put three episodes in one Chapter.

This shows how adding a new character can basically change the whole storyline.

Fascinating!

Now happy reading.

P.S. I didn’t add Handicap because this was not a main character EP and like N.K. has not really contact with the disabled kids.

Chapter 3: Weird, weirder, South Park!

It’s after lunchtime at school and I’m with Tammy in the girl’s bathroom. Wendy, Bebe, and Red are also here with us.

I’m helping Tammy cover up a pimple, while our friends each take a turn to do the business the toilettes were built for.

All is normal and nice.

Of course, SOMEONE has to disturb it.

Fucking Eric Cartman enters our bathroom, zeroing at the stalls!

Before anyone can react or say something, I grip Cartman by his fat neck, ignoring his protests, and drag him out of the bathroom.

Out on the school floor, I throw him against the lockers.

“You stupid bitch!”, he curses at me.

I punch beside his face at the locker staring him down with my best death glare. He is shaking in fright.

“What the fuck was that?!”, I ask. “Why did you enter the girl’s bathroom?”

I give him this, at least, even if he is shitting his pants, he managed to press out: “I'm transginger.”

“What?”

“Did you notice the bow?”

Cartman points at the little pink bow he has now on his wool hat.

“I'm not comfortable with the sex I was assigned at birth, so I'm exercising my right to identify with the gender of my choice.”

“Bullshit!”, I growl out and punch again beside his face. Cartman flitches. “That’s just a scheme of yours to use our bathroom, god knows why. You aren’t transgender, dickhead.”

“Don't give me any more issues than I already have, Douchebag!”, he has the balls to say to me.

Okay enough.

I grip him by his collar slamming him against the lockers. He winces in pain.

“Don’t pull this shit you fucking asshole! I don’t want to make me angry! Let my community in peace and don’t use it for your agenda!”, I hiss at him. “Stop this shit right now or I gonna beat you up! I will beat you up so much that the beatdown I gave you while we played the Stick of Truth was a nice massage! You understand me!”

I let go of him and he falls on his fat ass painfully.

I point at him.

“Don’t test me bitch!”

With that, I return back to the girl’s bathroom.

I should have known that Cartman is as stupid as he is stupor.

I get called into the principal’s office, where Cartman is already waiting there with his mom, crying in her arms. Principal Victoria and my parents are there too.

“Oh god, what lying story did he tell you!”, I ask annoyed into the room.

I can see from Principal Victoria’s look that she doesn’t buy Cartman theater either, but somehow he managed to convince his mom, and now we are here.

“Novella-Karin Campo!”, begins Papà. “Did you really threat Erica here to beat her up if she uses the girl bathroom?”

“That’s not Erica that’s still Cartman who has one of his schemes going on!”, I counter.

Cartman wails and hugs his mom tight.

“I told you she is a transgingerphobe!”

“I’m not and it’s called trangenderphobe, you ignorant piece of shit!”

“My daughter is part of the LGBTAQ+ community since she was a little girl.”, comes Mamma to my defense. At least her! “She never was transphobe, she always was there for her sisters and brother who struggle with their gender identity. This is ridiculous!”

“Mrs. Campo I understand you and your daughter, but I need to get to the bottom of this. Sadly.”, mumbles Principal Victoria the last part, but I heard her.

Yep, she is totally not buying Cartman bullshit too.

I don’t wanna have her job right now too.

“Also, Eric here-“

“-It’s Erica, goddammit, mom say something?!-“

“-Don’t get angry so fast hun, people need to learn your new name, I certainly do-“

“-Mom!-“

“-Anyway as I was saying!”, starts Principal Victoria again. “Erica wanted to use the girl bathroom and you Novella-Karin dragged her out of it and threatened to beat her up if she tries this.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I told a little boy, who takes advance of my transgender brothers and sisters, only the truth! I will not let him use them as an excuse to shit in the girl’s bathroom.”

“N.K.!”, growls my father in warning, but Mamma gives him a little hit on the head.

“Christiano Campo, you rather believe someone else than your own daughter?!”

Oho, Mamma used Papà full name. She is pissed at him. He realizes this too, while he rubs his hurting spot.

Papà stays still.

Yeah, that’s probably better.

“I see.”, says Principal Victoria. “Sadly there is no evidence that Erica is taking advance.”

“Not even that we talk here about Eric Cartman who is known to pull shit like that?!”, I call in disbelief in between.

“Novella-Karin I can understand you, I really do, but my hands are tied. For threatening Erica you get a whole month of detention.”

I stare at her in disbelief, while Cartman, the fat fuck, grins in triumph.

Oh just wait, I have still a triumph card!

“Okay if Cartman here really is transgender then he must have started hormon therapy.”, I point out. “There are surely doctor notes that support his claim. If not he is lying.”

I’m betting that he probably doesn’t know that you don’t need to be on hormone therapy to be considered transgender. I bet he only made a little research on the subject.

Turn out I’m right. It’s satisfying to see Cartman’s face fall. Didn’t think about that, heh, fatass?

It’s still for a few seconds till Cartman yells: “Motherfucker!”

In the end, Cartman gets two-week detention for entering the girl’s bathroom, and my detention is canceled since it was my right to kick him out.

Also, I think Principal Victoria has nothing against it if I really beat up Cartman.

Of course somehow the whole school hears about this and people celebrate me like a celebrity.

It’s an enormous ego boost.

Also, it shows how hated Cartman is.

All in all a good day’s work.

The next days in South Park are again fucked up!

Somehow a drone took a video of Craig’s mom naked and from there on, neighborhood drones, police drones, and military drones flow around us.

Even my parents participated with a drone!

What really pissed me off besides that all our privacy was invaded, was that Mrs. Tucker got heat only because she doesn’t shave down under.

Again I made use of my Social-Media Powers to help to get rid of the problems.

#AllNaturelBeaty and #DownWithDrones were trending everywhere.

My first Hashtag did help Mrs. Tucker, but I learned something new about my powers. I have to be more specific with my Hashtags since the solution to taking out drones was to bring more drones in.

In the end, someone used a blow-up doll with a hairy vagina to lead all the drones away from the city.

The evening after that the whole city is having a fancy banquet and celebrating the supposed hero, Mrs. Tucker, and her bush.

I can just facepalm at this all, as also a mistrial sings a heroic song for her.

Why is South Park so sick?!

Our school day starts pretty normally. I’m with Tammy at her locker, she is getting her books for our first lesson, as Jimmy walks up to us.

“G-Good morning, g-girls!”

“Hey, Jimmy!”

“What’s up, noble bard.”, I add playful.

“Not much. I just wanted to make sure you heard the fuh-fantastic news. There's a new Terrance & Phillip mobile game, and it's so amazing and incredibly fun.”

He shows us this fun game on his phone. I frown, while Tammy purses her lips.

I’m not much of a smartphone gamer and Tammy isn’t a fan of Terrance and Philip. I know shocking, I’m trying to get her to like them.

“That’s nice?”, Tammy says for us both.

“Isn’t it? And the most unbelievable part? It's totally free. You should download it to your phone right now. I mean, come. On. If it's free, why wouldn't you?”

“I don’t play mobile games, but sure, I could check it out.”, I tell Jimmy.

I mean it’s still Terrance and Philip.

“You betcha, pal.”

With that, he leaves us. We both look at each other and shrug our shoulders.

At recess, I try out the game, while Tammy watches me.

“This…is the biggest bullshit ever!”, I declare as I uninstall it.

That game wanted me to collect coins and then asked for real money to have more coins to rebuild Canada.

“I stay with my PlayStation game!”

“Aren’t DLC also kind of expansive? What’s the difference with this?”, Tammy wants to know.

“You didn’t say this! It’s a lot different. You get at last a whole new level and extra hours to play in it.”

We are walking around the school playground as we see Stan’s gang minus Stan and…huh I’m hearing right.

“Don’t tell me you guys tried also out the Terrance and Phillip mobile game?”, I call out to them.

“We did.”, responds Kyle and puts his phone away. “It’s so dumb.”

We all together agree to never play it again. I have a feeling this is a scheme even if it’s Terrance and Phillip.

But apparently, the one who wasn’t with us yesterday didn’t get the memo and even didn’t show up to school today.

Stan, I’m talking about Stan.

I’m with Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman to see after him. Tammy and Leo couldn’t come since Tammy has now karate training and Leo has to help his parents with something.

We enter Stan’s room.

He is playing the stupid mobile game in his bed all right.

“Ohhh hey guys.”, greets us, Stan.

“You... missed school today?”, reminds him, Kyle.

“Yeah, I just wasn't feelin' the best.”

I cross my arms and cock a hip out.

“But you feel well enough to play the Terrance and Phillip mobile game, Stanley?”

“Well yeah, I was sick in bed. What else was I gonna do?”

“Not playing and trying to get well?”

“N.K., I don’t think he is really sick.”, whispers Kenny.

“I know, I was just pointing it out.”, I whisper back.

“How much money did you micropay today, Stan?”, wants Cartman to know from him.

“Nothing! Dude, I bought like $10 worth of Canadough. But check it out, I unlocked the stadium in Toronto.”

Stan even smiles at us.

“You spent $10 and eight hours to unlock a stadium?”, summarize Kyle in disbelieve.

“You guys, is it that much dumber than video games you play?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe I agree with Cartman, but yes. Even DLCs are more fun than that shit!”

“It's just something to kill some time. Like Jimmy said, it's a cool way to zone out.”

….Wait a second, Jimmy?!

“Waitwaitwait, Jimmy told you about this game?”, says Kyle.

“Jimmy told me about this game.”, informs Cartman.

“Kenny, N.K. who told you about this game?”

“Jimmy!”, we say together.

“Dude, what?!”

“The?!”, continues Cartman.

“Fuck?!”, end Kenny and I.

We decide to let Stan be and hunt Jimmy down. He needs a lot to explain to us. We find him, trying to sell the game to a kid.

As it turns out the Canadian government pays Jimmy to push the game to other kids and he accepts their money because he has debts with another freemium game.

What a fucked up circle of money-making.

On good thing is that Stan realizes he needs help and comes to us. While he and Jimmy talk, we other are in Kyle’s kitchen talking about what we could do to stop this all.

Well, Kyle tries to think of a plan, I just go to my many social media platforms and spread the hell out of it.

“Kyle, stop coming up with a grand plan I already put the word out!”, I tell him showing him my Twitter account. “"Terrance & Phillip hire pushers to make money off addicts." is already trending and gets millions of retweets.”

“I don’t like to say it but these social media powers of you are useful Douchebag.”

“Thanks, fatass, but your compliment doesn’t mean much to me.”

More we can’t do.

The boys decide to go play basketball, while I pick up Tammy from karate to hang out with her and our girl squad later.

We all are in Bebe’s room, talking and shit, as Bebe looks at her phone and tells us apparently Satan, yes that Satan, and the Canadian Satan had a face-off, and normal Satan won and Canada bans all freemium games.

This craziness of South Park spread apparently to the whole world.

Meh, I just lay down on her floor and continue reading my Demon Slayer manga to Heidi.

I’m starting to have no more fucks to give, so…whatever!

Next

Support me on Ko-Fi!

Join my Tumblr for updates and news!

[dertaglichedan]

All presidents avoid reporters, but Biden may achieve a record in dodging the press

This caricature of Joe Biden, by Flickr user DonkeyHotey, was adapted from a photo in the public domain from the U.S. Secretary of Defense's Flickr photostream. (Credit: flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/)

There’s nothing new about presidents avoiding the press. Bill Clinton was in a major scandal – based in large part on getting caught in a deception during a media interview – and successfully outsourced his White House press briefings to legal counsel to avoid having his press secretary or himself trapped by tough media questioning. Barack Obama campaigned on being the most transparent president in history and then prosecuted reporters as criminals. But well into the third year of Joe Biden’s presidency, he has held fewer press conferences than any president in recent memory.

There’s a reason that Biden – and all the other presidents – want to avoid the press: While democracy may demand such accountability from a president, press conferences definitely are risky for them.

Avoidance becomes the norm

It took Biden until late March 2021 to hold his first press conference, more than two months after his inauguration – the longest a new president had gone without holding a press conference in 100 years.

During Biden’s first year in office, he held a total of 10 press conferences. Most of those featured him reading prepared remarks and then leaving without taking questions from reporters. When he does take questions, he tends to call on only preselected reporters from – in his own words – “a list I’ve been given.”

As a scholar of political communication and public relations, I have found through my research that public figures such as celebrities and sports stars in the age of social media are no longer concerned with answering reporters’ questions, holding press conferences or giving interviews.

Why should LeBron James care about reporters when he can share his unfiltered opinions freely and instantly with his 146 million Instagram followers and his 53 million Twitter followers?

Donald Trump brought this perspective to the country’s highest office, tweeting about the presidency and ignoring and insulting reporters to their faces. While Biden doesn’t trash the press the way Trump did, he hardly speaks to the public.

The White House press secretary routinely refuses to answer reporters’ questions. Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi wrote in January 2023 that press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly responded to questions about classified documents found in Biden’s home and former office “by essentially not responding.”

[gulden--sonmez]

Ten dead in Monterey Park shooting, 72-year-old Asian suspect commits suicide

In Monterey Park, California (Monterey Park/Monterey Park), a Chinese-run dance hall called "Dancing Star" was shot on New Year's Eve local time, causing at least 10 deaths and many injuries, shocking the Chinese community group.

Los Angeles police confirmed that the suspect who opened fire at the ballroom was a 72-year-old Asian man named Huu Can Tran. On the morning of the 22nd local time, the man was found dead in a white van during a police pursuit. Police preliminarily ruled that he committed suicide. CNN interviewed the murderer's ex-wife and dancer. They said the murderer was a regular customer who had taught in the dance hall and knew his ex-wife.

The attack is one of the deadliest shootings in modern California history -- the deadliest being 1984, when a gunman killed 21 people at a McDonald's restaurant near San Diego. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has been briefed and has ordered the FBI to support local authorities in the investigation.

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that residents around the ballroom and people familiar with the owner of the ballroom said that the murderer's motive for committing the crime may have come from emotional disputes, but this has not been confirmed by the police.

The center of Monterey Park, including West Garvey Avenue, where the shooting took place, was decorated for the Lunar New Year with red lanterns and banners. The celebration is one of the largest Spring Festival celebrations in California, attracting tens of thousands of people every day.

Two days of the planned festivities were cancelled. Much of the area around the ballroom has been cordoned off. Police are investigating whether the same suspect also tried to enter a second dance hall to open fire about 30 minutes after the attack.

A semi-automatic assault pistol with an extended magazine was seized from him at the second ballroom, police said. He then fled.

Ten other people were injured in the shooting and seven remain in hospital, some in critical condition, the sheriff said at a news conference Sunday.

The 10 dead were still being identified, but they "appeared to be in their 50s or 60s, some even older," he added.

Earlier, officials said the dead were five women and five men, all "likely" of Asian descent.

"Little Taipei" in California

Those who were at the scene at the time of the attack told the media they heard what they thought were fireworks. "I think it has something to do with the Chinese New Year," Tony Lai, 35, told The Associated Press.

Another witness said three men ran into his restaurant and told him to lock the door. A man with a machine gun opened fire, the three said. Videos circulating on social media showed police and firefighters rushing to treat victims.

The mayor of neighboring Alhambra, Sasha Renée Pérez, said the tragedy, which occurred over the Lunar New Year weekend, was "particularly tragic." "Residents should celebrate with family, friends and loved ones -- without fear of gun violence," she said.

Since the 1970s, many Taiwanese immigrants have lived in Monterey Park, so the city is known as "Little Taipei". However, Chinese immigrants moved in one after another and became the mainstream of the community. The square where the ballroom is located is nicknamed "Fatty Ding" by Chinese immigrants. There are many restaurants and it is an important gathering place for the Chinese community in Los Angeles.

Statistics show that two-thirds of the city’s 60,000 people are Asian. It is a sister city with Yonghe District in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and Quanzhou and Chaozhou in mainland China, and occupies an important position in the Chinese community in the United States.

Another shooting in the Asian community

In the past, the Asian community was often considered a model community because of its good law and order. However, the frequent shootings in the United States have begun to affect the Asian community. In May 2022, Zhou Wenwei, a 68-year-old immigrant from Taiwan, shot at a church in Irvine, California, shocking the Asian community in Taiwan and California.

According to reports, the suspect claimed to be dissatisfied with Taiwan's local culture and the concept of Taiwan independence, and locked the door of the church and shot people after attending a service on Sunday. A doctor of Taiwanese descent was shot dead after a scuffle with him. Most of the church members are elderly Taiwanese immigrants.

Ten people were killed in the Monterey Park shooting, and the tragedy of many injuries has once again drawn the attention of the Asian American community.

A lady who went to mourn and taught in a local middle school told the Central News Agency that the Monterey Park area is very safe, and Asians make up the majority. She is very proud to teach in this place and has always felt that the community is peaceful.

The shooting happened, and she was very sad, because most of the people in the ballroom were elderly, but they encountered tragedy on New Year's Eve. She said she was ready to help students cope with the loss of their grandparents.

[sifasdt]

SIFAS Daily Theatre Classic: 2020-12-26

(Transcription after the break.)

[Image transcription:]

SIFAS Daily Theatre for 2020-12-26

A Sheet of Memory!

Kasumi: To us, who have worked hard all year-! Cheers~! Setsuna: Cheers~! But it makes you feel a little guilty to have these parties in a row, doesn't it.... Kanata: We definitely have to have a party for Christmas~, and we also need to celebrate our hard work for the year. So this is a necessary party~ Emma: I'm happy to eat lots of Kanata-chan's food! Karin: They're this delicious even though they are low calorie, huh. I see you've also worked hard on your cooking research, Kanata Shizuku: Kanata-san is really a master of two sets of skills.... I have to try harder and aim for the top too! Ayumu: Hey, how about if we take a commemoration photo together? Shioriko: I wonder if 10 people would fit in the frame? Should I be the one to take it? Ai: What are you saying Shiotti! Come on, Rinari will take a great picture, so let's gather around everyone~! Rina: Rina-chan's selfie stick, ready.... *Snap*. Yeah, it's a good picture. Let's upload this to social media

[End transcription.]

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] On Friday, the US Supreme Court upheld a law banning the video-sharing platform TikTok due to national security concerns about a Chinese company owning the app, according to media reports. The social media app owners appealed, saying that the ban violated the First Amendment. The court ruled that the law does not violate free speech rights and added that the US government had shown legitimate national security concerns about the app. The law will force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell its US business by Sunday or face a ban. During a hearing last week, the Supreme Court agreed that the video-sharing platform was a means of expression for millions of Americans. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” they said. However, they added that issues raised regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and the adversarial relationship between the US and China were also significant. What Did The Biden Administration Say? The outgoing Biden administration has stated that they leave any decisions regarding the ban up to president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. “President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” said the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday. “Given the sheer fact of timing, this administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday,” Pierre added. What’s Donald Trump’s Response? In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday during a phone conversation. During his presidential campaign, Trump had vowed to save the application from being banned. The President-elect also made his stance clear in a post on Truth Social. He said that everyone must respect the Supreme Court’s decision. The post read, ” The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” Meanwhile, media reported that TikTok CEO Shou Chew will also attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] On Friday, the US Supreme Court upheld a law banning the video-sharing platform TikTok due to national security concerns about a Chinese company owning the app, according to media reports. The social media app owners appealed, saying that the ban violated the First Amendment. The court ruled that the law does not violate free speech rights and added that the US government had shown legitimate national security concerns about the app. The law will force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell its US business by Sunday or face a ban. During a hearing last week, the Supreme Court agreed that the video-sharing platform was a means of expression for millions of Americans. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” they said. However, they added that issues raised regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and the adversarial relationship between the US and China were also significant. What Did The Biden Administration Say? The outgoing Biden administration has stated that they leave any decisions regarding the ban up to president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. “President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” said the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday. “Given the sheer fact of timing, this administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday,” Pierre added. What’s Donald Trump’s Response? In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday during a phone conversation. During his presidential campaign, Trump had vowed to save the application from being banned. The President-elect also made his stance clear in a post on Truth Social. He said that everyone must respect the Supreme Court’s decision. The post read, ” The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” Meanwhile, media reported that TikTok CEO Shou Chew will also attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday. [ad_2] Source link

[littleeyesofpallas]

Feeling too lazy to just dive right into it here and now, but I might aggregate and poke around old Mizuiro appearances in Bleach later.

There was a brief time I can recall during the early Arrancar Arc where people pointed out that while Keigo and Tatsuki and Karin were all coming into their spiritual awareness Mizuiro was suspiciously present for all of it, yet totally unresponsive, even as he tagged along when meeting up with Urahara as the gang left for Hueco Mundo. And some people had suspected that it wasn't that he wasn't gaining spiritual awareness like the others, but that he was already spiritually aware from the start and was playing it cool. This line of thinking obviously died off while the arc was taking forever and even the Visored hadn't been heard from for hundreds of chapters...

At the time some people had pitched the super out of left field theory that if Mizuiro was someone who was already spirit aware, but apparently not a part of any of the existing factions; that is to say not just not soul society proper, and not the arrancar, but not the visored, and not Urahara's team either.... then maybe he was being planted as foreshadowing for some later twist... and so some people tossed around the idea that he was some sort of emissary or spy from Hell, as it's very existence was a similarly unaddressed loose end. (And this was also well before the Hell Arc movie happened.)

This idea that he was some form of other faction of spirit being also played into the joke early in the series where Ichigo warned Rukia that Mizuiro was something of a lady killer, to which Mizuiro protested he's only into older women. At the time it was funny because Rukia was of course over 100 years old. But wouldn't it be funny if Mizuiro knew the whole time and he'd been older himself from the start.

And it was a crackpot theory that went nowhere for years...

But then there was the really weird scene at the end, in between phases of the Aizen fight, where Aizen finally gets to Karakura proper, and while the handful of humans left awake are freaking out... Mizuiro just super casually chucks a pipe bomb at Aizen???? And we never see or hear anything about what was up with that?

And even though it doesn't clarify anything else prior, there's also the chapter where Shunsui visits the kids to give them the stupid spirit tickets that Kubo never followed up on (yes yes I know Narita came up with his own explanation for it, but I really don't care about the LNs even what few bits of them did manage to develop the lore half decently) and Mizuiro is kind of noticeably way too on top of what's going on with Soul Society's drama, both in general and compared to the other kids.

I don't know that there is or ever was really anything behind all these random disjointed little ominous details, but on a certain level it does seem like Kubo was aware of the general idea and leaning into it. And just in general Kubo was a little notorious, not just for his many(often halfassed) twists but also for his apparent awareness of his fans active theorizing on Japanese forums and social media. To the point where there were definitely suspicions that he was just taking whatever fan theory was popular at present and working it in for brownie points to help boost his ratings. (it's where some people suspected he got the 0th espada from, the Shiba Isshin twist, the Ichigo being a Quincy, the Ryuuken/Isshin/Masaki love triangle, Isshin being 10th Captain, Yachiru being Zaraki's sword spirit, and a handful of others I can't recall but that I definitely remember the uproar of "i called it!"s around during serialization.)

Anyway, was thinking about the potential of new Bleach content, if Kubo ever actually delivers on this Hell Jaws Arc thing, and was thinking, wouldn't it be funny if he came back to the Mizuiro thing after all these years? And maybe I should lay some groundwork for it while I have the chance.... But I'll be honest, even just reviewing it here I realize there's really probably nothing more for me to dig up even if I do go to the trouble of digging up every scene he was in.